Undecided by Juliana Keyes
Released: April 4, 2016
New Adult
Self Published
Reviewed by Kini
This author is one of my auto buys after I read her book, Just Once. She has not led me astray. I remain on the fence about new adult books, but I just keep finding really good stories in that genre so I keep reading. This was definitely up there in the top of the genre. Low drama and angst
Nora spent her first year at college drinking and partying and living the college dream. This did not go very well for her as she did poorly in her classes and got arrested. She has decided that her second year will be spent on the straight and narrow with no partying. Crosbie, also a college student, is a typical “jock/frat/party boy”. Except he isn’t.
Nora’s search for a new place to live ends with her looking at an apartment that is inhabited by the guy, Kellan, she hooked up with in a closet at a frat party last year, but he doesn’t recognize her.
He has no idea who I am. Sure I was wearing a shiny red corset and a leather mini-skirt during our…interlude at the Alpha Sigma Phi frat party last spring, but I’m wearing a cardigan now, not a mask.
Nora doesn’t want to live with Kellan because she is concerned that he is not over his partying ways, but he offers her a good deal on the rent and she feels like she can’t pass it up.
Kellan’s BFF, Crosbie spends a lot of time at the apartment. They are both on the track team and they are both very attractive and have the college ladies falling at their feet. There is even a name for the girls that get involved with Crosbie, the “Crosbabes.” And in one of the bathrooms on campus, there is a list of all the girls that each guy has been with. Crosbie is a magician and at one point Nora convinces Kellan that he should be more supportive of Crosbie and his illusions, I found it very endearing.
“Kellan nods sagely. “You’re right. I will. I’ve been an ass.” The two most sensitive boys on the planet, right here in this apartment.”
Nora doesn’t want to be attracted to or involved with Crosbie. She is adamant that she not be part of Crosbie’s list. This is not for fear of being slut-shamed but rather her need intense need to focus and control her situation. They get together during a Halloween party. They end up back at her apartment.
He hooks his hands under my legs and lifts them high and wide, but before I can be mortified he comes down over me, one arm on the pillow beside my head, the other guiding his cock between my legs. “Can I?”
“Do you really have to ask?”
“I just want to be sure.”
I look into his eyes, molten brown I now know darkens to nearly black when he’s turned on, the flush in his cheeks belying the utter control in his voice. I think he’d stop if I asked him to. I think he’d put on that Superman costume and do a jig if I requested it. I think Crosbie Lucas is not quite the cocky, smug ass that he pretends to be.
I LOVE seeing consent addressed in books.
The relationship between Nora and Crosbie progresses and it is super cute and sweet and I loved him. Nora has to learn how to balance her life in college and not swing from one extreme to the other in her relationship and life. She hits some snags along the way, but I felt like the author did a good job of showing Nora’s growth and changes without being too whiny or angsty. Nora was much less undecided at the end.
There are interesting and fun supporting characters, Kellan, Marcela and Nate, all of whom I would be interested in reading about in books of their own.
There was one thing that I noticed and had a hard time moving on from. Nora and crew are described as second year college students, but if I read correctly there were references to them being 20ish and to them buying alcohol. I know college kids drink, but the age/times just seemed a little off. This is probably only noticed by me, the mom of a second year college student.
I really enjoyed this book. I like the author’s voice. I liked that the guys were sensitive and supportive of each other. I like that Nora found her groove and her confidence in herself. Crosbie was a big lug with a soft center and I loved him. I want everyone to read this and fall in love with Crosbie.
Grade: B+
I loooooved this book. Crosbie turned out to be such a cute romance hero. I really need to read more by this author!
I hate that the cover makes it look like a love triangle – which it is NOT.
I’m looking forward to this; thanks for the review.
I think the author is Canadian, which might explain the age thing. If I remember correctly, at least Ontario has 13th grade (don’t know if it’s actually called that) and so you’d enter college at age 19 instead of 18 like the States.
Lozza, she is Canadian so that is a valid point. The age thing was probably unnoticed by most people. Just one of those little details that because you are familiar with the situation it sticks out to you more than most.